Page 142 of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Tripod

“She’s been trying to get me out of the day-to-day work. I still don’t know why, but in order for her to put up those cameras, to help me track Caleb and his brother, I had to agree to take the promotion.”

“Promotion? You said retirement.”

“I can explain later.”

“So I should feel sorry for you? You had to retire early to get your boss to help you spy?”

“It’s not spying,” he presses. When he takes another step toward me, I take another step back, once more up against my car. “I should’ve asked, but when you were in Miami, I did some digging. Caleb’s brother is an animal, Sophie.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“But when I read his file-”

“His file?”

“-I knew I had to do something. Sophie, I lo- I care about you.”

My heart breaks. He might as well wave a huge, crimson banner in my face and scream at me not to trust him. But the earnestness in his voice makes me pause. Brody licks his lip, but then falls to his knees, sitting back on his heels, face angled up at me.

I’ve never had someone give a damn about me like this and I’m not so stupid that I’m going to push him away for loving me. I caught his near slip. He almost said the word.

I sink to my knees in front of him as tears flow down my cheeks once more. His hands are trembling when I take them in mine.

“Sophie, I’m so sorry,” he whispers.

I lean forward, pressing my forehead to his and closing my eyes.

“Don’t you dare fucking lie to me again.” I don’t have to finish the threat. He knows he won’t get another chance.

“Never,” Brody agrees, his voice so soft I can barely hear him, even this close. “Never again.”

After kneeling for several minutes together, we make our way upstairs and Brody sets about heating water in the kettle. I direct him around the kitchen and watch his movements, smiling when he pulls out a calming blend that Natalie favors in the evenings.

“So,” I take the mug of tea Brody hands me. “Retirement?”

I’m not totally sure I’ve forgiven him. He can see it in my eyes when he sits next to me on the couch with a mug in his hands. I’m worried he’s going to treat me with kid gloves as if I’m some breakable porcelain doll in need of a glass case for safekeeping.

“Long story short, my boss, Mel, has been trying to get me to quiet retire for two years.”

“Quiet retire?” I snort.

“Like quiet quitting.” He shrugs. “Promote me to CIO and then take all of my day-to-day projects away. I barely do anything now.”

“Why?”

“I think she’s been planning something she doesn’t want me to be a part of.”

“Something dangerous?”

“Or illegal.” He blows on his tea, seemingly unconcerned by the idea. “Mel has always tried to protect me from the darker parts of the company.”

“Darker parts?”

“Despite the promotion, I feel like I know less than before.”

“Fuck, Brody, why do you work for her?”

“She’s like a sister to me.”

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